The Madurai Rural Police arrested three persons on Monday in connection with the murder of a mentally ill person, whose body was found in an unused well on the Ring Road, a fortnight ago.
Following a complaint from the Ayyanpappakudi Village Administrative Officer that a 30-year-old man's body was spotted in a well, the Avaniapuram police registered a case of murder.
The police identified some strangulation marks around the neck and the legs were tied with a string. Post-mortem reports suggested that the murderers had used a nylon rope, which is mostly used in share auto rickshaws to start the engine by pulling the lever.
Superintendent of Police Asra Garg had formed a special team led by Avaniapuram Inspector Uma Shankar.
Investigations suggested that the victim Kumaran, was living in a Home for mentally ill persons in Keerathurai limits and that the Madurai City Police had registered a man missing case based on a complaint from the warden of the Home.
Discreet probe led to the detention of Madras alias Rajesh Kannan (18) son of Kumaraguru, Muthupandi (18) son of Siva and Parthiban (19) son of Vasu. All of them hailed from Chintamani.
Based on the confessions, the police realised that the trio had been to a TASMAC liquor bar situated near Thirumalai Naick Palace in Madurai city on February 12 and in a brawl, the mobile phone of Rajesh Kannan was lost. As they were returning home in their auto, the trio spotted Kumaran walking alone on the Cement Road. In an inebriated mood, Parthiban told his accomplices that Kumaran had taken the mobile phone. Following this, they forcibly took him in the auto to an undisclosed destination. With the help of a blade, they claimed to have injured Kumaran around his neck. Later, they strangulated him to death. The trio, all in their teens, had committed the grave crime only to be identified as notorious rowdies in the locality, a senior police officer said.
